TORONTO – The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has launched a pilot program to demonstrate an innovative and affordable approach to equipping multi-family buildings with EV charging to help residents make their next car an EV. The pilot will also support the initial installation of over 400 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in two condos and up to nine apartment buildings across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
Electrifying cars and trucks is essential to achieving net-zero emissions in Canada. However, as demonstrated in the report Futureproofing multi-family building for EV Charging created by the Green Municipal Fund, Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) and Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, the lack of charging infrastructure in multi-family residential buildings—home to one-third of Canadians—poses a significant barrier to equitable EV adoption. For most drivers, home charging is the most affordable and convenient option, and often the deciding factor in choosing an EV.
“The Government of Canada is empowering Canadians with charging options for their electric vehicles. Most EV drivers are charging overnight and waking up ready to go. With this pilot project, we are driving innovation to accelerate EV charger installation where Canadians need them, in multi-unit residential buildings,” said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
“Achieving our climate and EV targets requires widespread charging access, but this is more complex and expensive in multi-family buildings where over 10 million Canadians live. This pilot will demonstrate an innovative approach to expanding home charging access in condos and apartments, helping residents make their next car an EV and laying the groundwork for future scaling,” said Bryan Purcell, Vice President of Policy and Programs at The Atmospheric Fund.
The EV-ready pilot will equip in-use underground parking spaces with an electrified outlet to support the easy installation of future Level 2 chargers. Chargers (Level 2) will also be installed in approximately 25% of the in-use parking spaces as part of this pilot project. Demand for the program is already high, with building participants fully selected.
“EV readiness matters to our residents—both current and future. Charging access is becoming a must-have amenity—something that influences where renters choose to live. If we want to be a future-ready housing provider, we need to meet that demand because EVs are here to stay,” said Trevor McLeod, Sustainability Manager at Hazelview Properties, pilot project participant.
TAF’s EV-ready pilot is based on expert recommendations that comprehensive EV-ready upgrades in multi-family buildings would expand charging access more efficiently and cost-effectively than current incremental approaches. The goal of the pilot is to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of comprehensive EV-readiness in a variety of buildings in the GTHA, including various building sizes, parking structures, and electrical profiles.
“It’s great to see this research in action, accelerating the shift to electric mobility. The Green Municipal Fund has long recognized the need for practical, scalable solutions, and it’s encouraging to see those ideas move from research to real-world testing,” said Amy Schwartz, Transportation Lead at the Green Municipal Fund.
This program is funded in part by Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program ($2.45 million) and investments from TAF and building owner partners.
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ABOUT TAF
The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is a regional climate agency that invests in low-carbon solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and helps scale them up for broad implementation. To learn more, visit taf.ca
MEDIA CONTACT
Julie Leach, Senior Manager, Campaigns and Communications, TAF
Jleach@taf.ca | +1 416-393-6382
EVSTARTs installation statistics to date across both condo and rental projects shows EV Charger penetration of approx 3.5% (total active chargers / total # of parking stalls in active buildings).
We would suggest targeting EV ready infrastructure for 10- 15% of parking stalls as an alternative target to allow TAF to deploy funding across more buildings.
This is an interesting article
Thanks for the input Ed! Our focus for this pilot and these 11 buildings is getting as close as possible to 100% EV ready, while only adding the number of actual chargers needed to support current or near-term demand in each building. Based on our research, there are certain benefits and long-term cost savings that come from approaching the building holistically. And our federal funding program restrictions and timelines limit our ability to add more buildings in this phase. But it is a pilot and we’ll be thinking about how it can be refined for future expansion based on the learnings and stakeholder feedback including yours.